LHA

LHA (lipohydroxy acid) is a gentle, oil-soluble exfoliant derived from salicylic acid that works gradually to help promote smoother, clearer-looking skin. Its lipophilic nature and slow action make it one of the gentler exfoliating options, well-suited for those who want a milder approach.

• Helps promote smoother, more refined-looking skin texture
• Supports clearer-looking pores with a gentle, gradual approach
• One of the gentler exfoliating options, with a gradual approach to surface exfoliation

• It comes in two forms and they belong in different steps — a cleanser at the washing stage, a leave-on serum as a targeted step.
• Ease in gradually, following the frequency on the pack. Daily use is within the usual guidance once your skin is used to it.
• Across the whole area rather than dabbed onto single spots.
• Follow it with a moisturizer. Dryness and a brief sting on application are the things most likely to show up first.
• If it starts to feel tight or drying, use it less often rather than pushing through.
• Stick to one exfoliating product at a time — two on the same skin in the same session is what usually causes the stinging.
• Keep the leave-on to a different evening from retinol, or use the acid in the morning and the retinoid at night, which is how the studies ran it.

This product contains an exfoliating ingredient that may increase your skin's sensitivity to the sun. Discontinue use if irritation occurs and consult a healthcare provider.

Six situations change whether LHA suits your skin right now. Each one is either a reason to skip it, a reason to go slowly, or nothing to watch for.

Fragile or Sensitive

Skip it

Recent Facial or Laser

Skip it

Prone to Redness

Go slowly

Dry or Itchy Patches

Go slowly

Recent Shave or Wax

Go slowly

Maternity & Nursing

No caution

Prone to Redness — Try it on a small area first, and use it less often — or stop — if you notice stinging or extra redness.

Dry or Itchy Patches — Keep the rest of your routine well moisturized, and use it less often — or stop — if you notice tightness or itching.

Recent Shave or Wax — Avoid for 24 hours after waxing, threading, or dermaplaning.

No cosmetic regulator in these four markets sets a maximum strength for lha. That is a limit on the rules, not a signal to use more: how much goes into a product is the formulator's decision.

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LHA exfoliating cleanser · 4

ArenciaGreen Tea + LHA Deep Pore Rice Cake Cleanser - 150ml$16.00ArenciaRice + LHA Pore Control Rice Cake Cleanser - 150g$16.00molvanyHypoallergenic LHA CIS Gel Cleanser - 200ml$19.60VeganifectClean And Glow Green Barley LHA Deep Cleansing Oil - 205ml$14.74

LHA exfoliating serum · 1

Milk TouchWhite Teatree LHA Trouble Relief Serum - 30ml$20.00

When should you apply LHA?

It comes in two forms and they belong in different steps — a cleanser at the washing stage, a leave-on serum as a targeted step.

Which form of LHA should you use?

LHA exfoliating cleanser — your wash, morning or evening, up to daily. LHA exfoliating serum — before moisturizer, morning or evening, up to daily.

How often can you use LHA?

Up to daily.

Where do you apply LHA?

All over the face. Keep it away from your eyes and lips.

Does LHA make skin more sensitive to the sun?

Only as the LHA exfoliating serum — use sunscreen the next morning. The other form is not flagged.

What should you not use with LHA?

Space it apart from Azelaic acid, Cysteamine, Eye-area retinol, Other exfoliants, Retinoids and Vitamin C.

Who should avoid LHA?

Skip it if any of these apply: Fragile or Sensitive and Recent Facial or Laser. Go slowly with Prone to Redness, Dry or Itchy Patches and Recent Shave or Wax.

Is there a cosmetic limit for LHA?

No. No cosmetic regulator in the United States, Canada, the European Union or Great Britain sets a maximum strength for it. That is a limit on the rules, not a signal to use more.

Everything on this page traces to the sources listed below — regulators' own publications and published studies. Where the evidence does not answer a question, it is left unanswered.

Our review is AI-assisted and is not a named expert's opinion. Last reviewed August 6, 2026.

Think something here is out of date or wrong? Email us at wiki@skinintelligence.ai with your reasoning and where you read it. We read what people send, and we update the page when the sources support it.